Running Total Collective Artist Debt

$55,212,069.84

Meredith Degyansky

Are you in debt How Did you get into Debt?

Of course. Roughly, $140,000. $50,000 of that is from Sallie Mae. Her chunk gives me the most cold sores. I was pretty dumb in undergraduate school and just took money from Sallie Mae all willy nilly not realizing the affects in would have on me in the future. We aren't educated enough as youngsters about the difference between private and government loans. My grad loans were way more calculated (all from the government). The federal loans with the income based repayment are quite fair and reasonable.

How do you make a living?

I've been a hard core waitress for the past twelve years. That's how I make most of my money. I've tried to find salaried jobs but always turn back to waitressing because it's the quickest way to make a decent amount of money. It also allows for a flexible schedule so I have time to work on my real work. Babysitting and some freelance design gigs here and there also supplement. Luckily, I'm good at saving money so I always have a chunk of that to fall back on. Mastering a rice and beans dish helps.

How does your debt affect your art practice?

Well, it relates to it in real terms in that I don't have as much time to work on my practice because I have to make money to feed myself. Otherwise, I would say that my work relates to economic reality on a societal level. I use personal stories and anecdotes to address certain economic issues that I suffer from but often there are subtle undertones referencing people who are affected financially way more than I am. I touch on inequality and class by analyzing my own guilt and awareness of others and the struggles of existing in this society no matter which end of the spectrum you fall into. I don't understand the world and I use my projects to help me figure it out. It still hasn't worked. But I am getting closer and closer.